Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules

ABSTRACT

A portable, hand-held data terminal of modular structure includes a base module with a keyboard and a display screen. A data and communications module may be selected from a number of different data and communications modules, each having different types of data communications transceivers, or including in addition data collection devices, such as shelf label readers or bar code readers. The base module includes a microprocessor-controlled data communications and control interface having a predetermined protocol. To adapt the various types of data and communications modules for selection of any one thereof to become attached to the base module and function therewith, each of the data and communications modules includes a microprocessor operable to function as an emulator to interact with the microprocessor of the base module and communicate with the microprocessor of the base module in accordance with the protocol of the data communications and control interface of the base module.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (claiming Benefit Under 35U.S.C. 120)

This application is a continuation-in-part application of PCTapplication PCT/US90/03282, filed Jun. 7, 1990 and U.S. application Ser.No. 07/467,096, filed Jan. 18, 1990, by S. E. Koenck and R. L. Mahany,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,020, issued Sep. 24, 1991.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The descriptive matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/467,096,filed Jan. 18, 1990, by S. E. Koenck and R. L. Mahany, now U.S. Pat. No.5,052,020, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and madepart of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to data systems, and more particularlyto data collection and processing systems using portable, hand-held dataterminals for collecting, selectively processing and for communicatingcollected data to other system elements. Typical collection processesmay include reading data and manually keying in such read data. Typicalautomated processes may include scanning indicia of information with ascanner, for example a bar code reader. Data collected by such terminalsmay become part of the data base of the system. Real time use of datacollected by the data terminals may be implemented by communicationinterfaces within such data terminals.

Though host computers which as central processing stations of such datasystems may control data bases and data flow, the hand-held dataterminals are key elements for operating the data systems efficiently.Current data systems using hand-held data terminals have shown acorrelation between the functionality of the hand-held data terminalsand the overall effectiveness of the systems. While progress has alreadybeen made in improving efficiency and functionality of hand-held dataterminals, there is nevertheless a need to provide hand-held dataterminals which are readily adaptable to perform various functions andcommunicate with a variety of communications equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, one of a plurality of special purpose dataand communications modules is selectively combined with a base module orunit of the hand-held data terminal.

According to one particular aspect of the invention, a base unitincludes a user interface in an upward directed surface which wouldtypically be facing toward a person using the data terminal. The userinterface typically features a keyboard adjacent a bottom end, and aliquid crystal display adjacent a top end of a substantiallyrectangular, elongate housing of the data terminal. The base unitprovides for a data and communications module to be attached beneath theuser interface and adjacent the top end of the housing.

According to another particular aspect of the invention, the data andcommunications module attachable to the base module includes acommunications means of one type, such as a radio using spread spectrummodulation transmission, the data and communications module includingprovisions emulating data communications of a second type, the secondtype of communications and the respective protocol being compatible withdata circuits of the base module.

In another particular aspect of the invention, the data andcommunications module to be attached to the base module includesprovisions for data communications and a data scanner provision forcollecting data. In a more particular implementation of the invention,the base module includes data collection provisions, collected databeing transferable via a cable mounted to the base unit. In combinationwith the data scanner module, the data and communications moduleincludes provisions for selectively switching data collection operationsbetween the data scanner provision of the data and communications moduleand the data collection provisions of the base module.

In yet another aspect of the invention the data and communicationsmodule may include a modem and typical telephone communications couplingeither in lieu of a radio communications provision or in additionthereto. The modem may be provided in the data and communications modulewith a data scanning device or with alternate data identification andcollection provisions.

In one particular implementation including certain features of theinvention, the data and communications module is contemplated to includethe combination of a radio frequency communications provision and a dataidentification and collection provision, and an antenna of radiofrequency communications provision of the data and communications modulemay be pivotally mounted to be pivoted to a position out of interferingrelationship with the data identification and collection provision,while optimally receiving radio frequency communication.

In furtherance of efficient adaptability of data communications modulesto base modules of the data terminal in accordance with the invention,it is contemplated to provide an elastic hand strap on the downwardfacing surface of a data terminal for retaining manual engagement withthe data terminal, the hand strap being attached at one end thereof to abase module of the data terminal. A second, opposite end of the elasticstrap is slidably inserted into engagement with a guide track disposedin an outer surface of the data and communications module. The directionof insertion is in the direction of the one end of the elastic handstrap, such that an elastic tension in the hand strap retains theslidable engagement of the other elastic hand strap with the data andcommunications module of the data terminal. In accordance with theinvention, the elastic strap is readily removed without tools by slidingthe second end along the guide track in a direction against the tensionof the elastic strap.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, in which a base unitincludes a data and control interface for interacting with a data andcommunications module, an improvement in each of a plurality of data andcommunications modules includes a data and control interface provisionincluding data and control signal conversion provisions forcommunicating data between the data and communication module and thebase module in accordance with a data protocol resident within the baseunit.

Various other features and advantages of the data terminal in accordancewith the invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, which may be best understood when read with reference tothe appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a modular data terminal and showing afrontal or upward directed face of the data terminal, as it wouldtypically face an operator of the data terminal;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the data terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate data terminal in accordance withthe invention, a particular provision in accordance with certainfeatures of the invention for engaging and disengaging a data andcommunications module with respect to a base module being illustrated;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate data terminal in accordance withthe invention showing particular features relating to a data andcommunications module in combination with a base module, such featuresrelating to the data and communications module having an RFcommunications provision and a data scanning provision and includingfurther a pivotal antenna, all in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a pivot joint of an antenna in accordancewith a particular aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the antenna pivot joint shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial pictorial view of an upper portion of a dataterminal in accordance with the invention, showing in particular a dataand communications module having telephone connector plugs forinterfacing the data and communications module with telephonecommunications lines;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of functional blocks for illustratingcontemplated major functional elements of a base module and a respectivedata and communications module of a data terminal in accordance with theinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of functional blocks for illustrating themajor functional elements shown in FIG. 8 and for illustrating thefunction of emulating the interface function required by an interfacecircuit communicating between non-compatible communications functions ofthe communications or data collection functions of the data andcommunications module and the base module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a data collection terminal unit, alsoreferred to herein as data terminal, is designated generally by thenumeral 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a frontal face 12 of an elongate housing14 of a base module 16 of the data terminal 10 typical faces upward andis accessible to the user of the data terminal. The upward facingportion of the module 16 houses a keyboard module 17, including analphanumerical keyboard 18 and a display screen 19. The display screen19 is in a preferred embodiment described herein a 4-line by16-character Reflective Super Twist Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Ofcourse, other display means may be used in its stead. The keyboard 18includes a lower, standard numerical keyboard section 21, above which isdisposed an alphabetical keyboard arrangement 22. An On-Off power key 23is preferably placed in a leftmost position of an uppermost row on anuppermost row of five keys. The outermost keys 24 in a bottom row areconfigured as "CLEAR" and "ENTER", while the remaining four keys in theuppermost row are preferably configured as a set of four user-definedfunction keys 26.

At a bottom end 30 of the housing 14, there are located two connectorplugs 31 and 32 in recesses 33 and 34, respectively. Inasmuch as theconnectors 31 and 32 are disposed in the recesses, adjacent end andinterleaved protrusions 36 of the housing 14 extend somewhat past theconnectors to protect the connectors from damage should the dataterminal accidentally be dropped or set down on the bottom end 30. Apreferred embodiment of the data terminal 10 is intended to withstandwithout damage a drop of about 1.2 meters to a solid surface, such asconcrete. The preferred connector 31 is an input-output port, as may beused for such data collection as bar code reading, for example. In suchinstance, the connector 31 is preferred to be a 9-pin D-subminiatureconnector with pins interfacing to typical 5 volt scanning peripherals.The connector 32 may be used for accessing external power sources orprovide of combined power and data communication. A circular miniatureDIN-type connector 32 may be used in the preferred embodiment. A top end40 of the preferred embodiment of the base module 16 typically may notinclude connectors. An antenna 41 shown to extend above the top end 40is further described in reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a data terminal 10 of FIG. 1. The base module16 of the data terminal 10 includes an elongate upper housing portion 43and a battery compartment 44 attached to the upper housing portion 43adjacent the bottom end 30. In the preferred embodiment, the batterycompartment 44 is assembled as a lower housing portion to the upperhousing portion 43 and is equipped with a battery compartment door 46which may be locked to seal an opening of the battery compartment 44.Adjacent the top end 40 of the data terminal 10 a data andcommunications module 48 is attached to the lower edge of the upperhousing portion 43. The antenna 41 extends upward from the data andcommunications module 48 above the top end 40 of the data terminal 10.An elastic hand strap 49 is attached to the underside of the dataterminal 10. A belt clip 50 may conveniently be mounted to the handstrap 49, allowing the data terminal to be carried on a user's belt. Theelastic hand strap is attached adjacent the top end of the data terminalto the underside of the data and communications module 48 and adjacentthe bottom end 30 to a sloped lower surface of the battery compartment46.

One of the features of hand-held data terminals as disclosed hereinrelates to the exchangeability of modules of different shape and variedfunction. The data and communications module 48 in FIG. 2 may forexample include a radio module which is externally identified by theantenna 41. The radio module may be a commercially available pretuned1-watt (UHF) frequency modulated (FM) radio transceiver module, or anysimilar radio module, such as a Motorola P10™ radio model, for example.

In accordance herewith it is contemplated to provide the data andcommunications module 48 as a module which is readily replaceable withanother data and communications module. Each such module will feature aquick exchange mounting mechanism, such as is more clearly illustratedwith respect to FIG. 3, and any of a number of features packaged in oneof a number of compatible data and communications modules. When mounted,the module, such as the data and communications module 48 is matched ina contour continuation along a juncture 52 to the adjacent edge of thebattery compartment 44 and along a longitudinal parting line 53 of thebase module 16. For example, the data and communications module 48 issized to include the described radio frequency transceiver module, asindicated by the antenna 41. Other data and communications modules mayinclude a similar radio frequency transceiver module and may includeadditional memory capacity to function with the base module 16. Variouscombinations of features are contemplated in accordance herewith.

FIG. 3 shows the base module 16 and substantially in a ready position tobecome mounted to the base module 16 is a data and communications moduledesignated generally by the numeral 55. The data and communicationsmodule 55 is shown to represent generally a number of such data andcommunications modules which may be desirably incorporated into acommunications system in accordance with the invention. It may be notedthat the data and communications module 55 is shown in FIG. 3 as beingof somewhat relatively greater depth or thickness than the data andcommunications module 48 described with respect to FIG. 2. The change inouter dimensions illustrates that a number of modules of various depthare adapted to match with mounting provisions to attach the respectivedata and communications module 55 to the base module 16.

The data and communications module 55, as a representative modulefeaturing the attachment to the base module 16 has a plurality oflaterally disposed latching hooks or latch hooks 56 which become engagedby respective latching seats or latch seats 57 disposed along theadjacent edge of the base module 16 when the module 55 is moved towardand into engagement with the adjacent edge and then toward the batterycompartment 44, as shown by the arrow. Electrical communication isestablished via a power and communications connector 61 the pins ofwhich engage a mating connector socket 62 within the base module 16. Aset of screws 63 may be tightened through the battery compartment 44into a set of threaded seats 64 disposed in the adjacent wall of themodule 55 to securely retain the attached module as an integrated partof the data terminal 10. At the top end of the data terminal 10, a lipor extending stop edge 66 of the module 55 engages a complementarilyshaped seat 67 at the top end of the base module 16 to securelyinterlock the data and communications module 55 with the base module 16.

It is contemplated, for example, for the module 55 to include any of anumber of combinations of diverse functional elements. For example, themodule 55 may include the aforementioned transceiver, though the antenna41 may be attached externally as shown in FIG. 2 or might be providedinternally, in addition to extended data memory capacity, a modem or areader of indicia of information may be included, such as a bar codereader, or a shelf tag reader. Shelf tag systems are known in whichso-called "shelf tags" contain means for programming information intosmall display devices which are attached to front edges of merchandisestorage shelves. The devices or tags would then retain the programmeddata which may be acquired by the reader in the data and communicationmodule 55, for example. Information may be communicated between theshelf tag and the data terminal 10 by various means including radiofrequency or optical transmission. Information may be communicated viaoptical readers in the data and communications terminal 16 as read fromliquid crystals, or by other communication such as infra red optical, orlow power RF data messages.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the data terminal 10 in whichthe data terminal includes a data and communications module whichincludes, for example, a radio frequency transceiver module and a CCDscanner module which may be disposed in a lower portion of the module at76, having a scanning window at 77. Since it may be desirable toposition the scanning window near a surface at which data indicia suchas bar code labels may be located, as indicated at 78, the antenna whichalso protrudes from the top end of the data terminal 10 is found to beinterfering when disposed in a normally protruding position. It istherefore contemplated to arrange the antenna 41 in a manner in which itmay be pivoted from an upwardly protruding position, such as shown inphantom lines at 81 to a tilted position such as shown by the antenna41.

In reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a pivotal joint whichexperiences little signal degradation when pivoted from such upwardlyextended position to the tilted position in which the scanner window maybe brought into proximity of a bar code label, for example, asdescribed. The pivotal antenna joint includes a pivot base or pivotsocket 83 into a hollow cup of which fits a pivot ball 84. Both thepivot socket 83 and the pivot ball 84 are of RF dielectric to preventradio frequency burns of a person touching the antenna when theassociated radio transceiver is transmitting. The pivot socket 83 ismounted against an outer wall of the module, such as the module 48, 55or 75 by an antenna swivel post 85. The swivel post 85 includes aspherical top against which rests a pivot washer 86. The pivot washer isin turn urged into contact with the top of the swivel post by a cuppedspring washer 87, also at times referred to as Belville washer. Theurging force against the spring washer 87 is provided by adoubly-threaded antenna mounting bushing 88. An external thread of thebushing 88 screws into an upper opening of the pivot ball 84 to completethe pivot joint of the antenna. The antenna 41 screws with its base intothe internal threads of the mounting bushing 88. As shown in FIG. 6, alower dielectric skirt 89 of the antenna 41 extends downward over theouter edge of the bushing, which is of metal, to prevent exposure of thebushing. It should be understood that variations in the pivot joint maybe possible within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment and further features of the invention asdescribed herein. The elastic strap 49 may be permanently attachedadjacent the bottom end of the data terminal 10 as described hereinabove. At an upper end, however, the elastic strap may be attached tothe exchangeable data and communications modules, such as a module 90depicted in FIG. 7. In that the modules are exchangeable and in aneffort to facilitate a quick replacement of one module for another, thehand strap is attached to the module 90 by a guide structure 91including left and right hand spaced guide tracks 92 and 93 whichreceive a guide bracket 94 attached to the upper end of the hand strap49. To attach the upper end of the hand strap 49 the elastic hand strapis stretched beyond its normal tensioned stretched length and the guidebracket 94 is inserted into an uppermost opening between the guidetracks 92 and 93. The tension of the hand strap 49 pulls the bracket 94into the space between the guide tracks 92 and 93 in the direction ofthe arrow 95. The insertion of the bracket 94 securely captures thestrap 49 at its upper end. To remove the hand strap at its upper pointof attachment, the bracket is simply pulled out of the uppermost openingbetween the two spaced guide tracks 92 and 93. The embodiment of thedata and communications module 90 further shows typical telephoneconnector jacks 97 and 98 indicating that the module contains a typicalmodem unit for communication over standard telephone lines. The modemunit as shown by connectors 97, 98 in the module 90 may be supplementedby memory for data storage prior to communication by the modem. In thismanner the data terminal may be used in a batch process mode, data beingtransmitted at times and occasions convenient for telephone hook-up.Modem connections may also take on more significance in that the dataterminal may be coupled to a typical cellular telephone unit which inturn can communicate via standard telephone communication networks overvast areas. In the latter mode batch transfer of data may still bedesirable, though the need for substantial data storage capacity may bereduced.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a microprocessor controlled data transferbetween the base module 16 and any of a number of data and communicationmodules which may include various data collection and data communicationtransceivers including complex radios such as a spread spectrum radio orsuch a modem for telephone transmission of data. Though not expresslydescribed, it is understood that the hand-held data terminal 10 asdescribed herein and all of its circuits, including those of attachedmodules are powered by a battery or power source which occupies thespace of the battery compartment 44 as described herein. FIG. 8 shows ablock diagram of functions of the base module 16 and a typical data andcommunications module designated generally by the numeral 100. The basemodule is operative in conjuction with a typical radio frequencytransceiver provided by the data and communication module 100, forexample. The base module 16 includes a typical keyboard module 102interactively coupled to a microprocessor 104. A preferredmicroprocessor is a 80C196KC device which is a 16-bit microcontroller105 with on-chip masked ROM, RAM and built-in timers, ports, analog todigital converters and a serial interface 106. Thus, the microprocessorfunctions as a microcontroller and as an interface for communicatingdata and control signals to and from the base module 16. In addition tothe on-chip memory capacity, an external ROM 107 and an external RAM 108may be provided for additional data processing and communicationcapacity. Display controller and driver circuits 109 may be multi-chipcircuits or may be integrated into a single device to drive thedescribed LCD screen 110. A typical scanner interface 115 is coupled toa 9-pin connector 116, such as the referred to D-subminiature connectorwhich may couple a laser scanner or CCD scanner to the base module 16for data collection.

The data and communication module 100 is of particular interest in thatan improved interfacing may be obtained by coupling communicationbetween the data and communication module 100 and the base module 16through a microprocessor 125, such as, for example an 80C51microprocessor circuit. Typical on board ROM allows the microprocessorto be programmed to interact with a number of devices in accordance withthe stored program. The microprocessor interacts with an interfacecircuit 126 which may be an analog or mixed analog and digital interfacecircuit. The program for interacting with the interface circuit 126 mayalso be stored within a ROM of the interface circuit 126. The interfacecircuit 126 is coupled to a transceiver module 128. The microprocessor125 may also be coupled directly to a data collection interface 129 toreceive data from a scanner for reading any number of different barcodes or for providing input data from other external sources. Theoperation of the microprocessor 125 for coupling data to the base module16 allows various input patterns to be processed by any of specificoperational protocols controlled by the microprocessor 125, such thatthe data input from the data collection circuit can be made the samefrom any of a number of devices. Also with respect to the operation ofthe transceiver, in that the program for operating the microprocessor125 may include particular address codes for data retrieval and datacommunication via the transceiver, the data sent via a data and controlbus between the microprocessors 125 and 104 can emulate a uniform datatransfer protocol to the base module 16. The simplification resultingfrom the microprocessor 125 increases the number of communicationsdevices that may be represented by the data communication transceivercircuit or module.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the base module 16 is shown as being coupled toa different data and communications module designated generally by thenumeral 130 in which the interface circuit 126 shown in FIG. 8 has beenreplaced with an interface circuit 132 and the transceiver 134 coupledto the interface circuit 132. The transceiver 134 may for example be acomplex radio, such as a spread spectrum radio in lieu of an FMtransceiver, such as may have been represented by the block identifiedat 128 in FIG. 8. However, the program function represented by theinterface circuit 132 and interacting with the microprocessor permitsthe interactive control and data stream between the base module 16 andthe data and communication module 130 to be emulated to appear to thebase module 16 as being the same as the simple FM transceiver module.The reference to the particular microprocessor circuits should not beconsidered limiting to the scope of the invention. The combination oftwo microprocessors interacting with each other, each controlling theenvironment of a respective one of two submodules such as the basemodule and the data and communication module permits an increased numberof different components and functions within the data system.

Various changes and modifications in the structure of the describedembodiment are possible without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand-held data collection terminal unitcomprising:a base module including a keyboard, a display, means forstoring a control program and data, an interface for communicating dataand a first microprocessor having a predetermined data communicationprocedure for controlling data applied to and received from saidinterface in accordance with the control program; and a data andcommunications module including a selected one of a plurality of datacommunication transceivers each having unique transceiver operationsignal patterns, the data and communications module further comprising acommunications interface and a second microprocessor communicativelycoupled to the communications interface of the data and communicationsmodule and coupled to the first microprocessor of the base module, thesecond microprocessor of the data and communications module having meansfor emulating data communication controlled to communicate data to thefirst microprocessor of the base module in accordance with the controlprogram of the first microprocessor of the base module.
 2. The hand-helddata collection terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the data andcommunications module further comprises a data collection means having adata transfer link coupled to the second microprocessor of the data andcommunications module, the second microprocessor having means foremulating the predetermined data communication procedure of data to becommunicated between the data collection means and the base module, forcontrolling the data communications between said data collection meansand the base module in accordance with the control program of the firstmicroprocessor of the base module.
 3. The hand-held data collectionterminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the data and communicationsmodule further comprises a code reader, the code reader having a datatransfer link coupled to be controlled by the second microprocessor ofthe data and communications module for transferring data between thedata and communications module and the base module in accordance withthe control program of the second microprocessor of the base module. 4.The hand-held data collection terminal unit according to claim 3,wherein the code reader is a CCD bar code scanner, wherein the selectedcommunications transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver, the dataand communications module having transceiver antenna extending away fromthe data and communications module and the data collection terminal, theantenna being pivotally mounted, having an outer dielectric pivot mountand an inner RF conductive swivel means, shielded by the outer pivotmount from direct operator contact, the outer pivot mount and innerswivel means permitting pivotal movement of the antenna to pivot awayfrom a scanning direction of the CCD bar code scanner permitting the CCDbar code scanner to become positioned in proximity of a bar code labelto be read.
 5. The hand-held data collection terminal according to claim1, wherein the data and communications module is attached to the basemodule by a plurality of engaging latch hooks and corresponding latchseats for retaining the data and communications module upon the data andcommunications module being moved into engaging position with the basemodule, means for electrically and communicatively coupling the basemodule and the data and communications module disposed respectively withthe base module and the data and communications module to electricallyand communicatively couple the modules upon the data communicationsmodule being moved into such engaging position with the base module, andmeans for maintaining the engaging position of the latch hooks withrespect to the latch seats.
 6. A hand-held data collection terminal unitaccording to claim 1, the terminal unit having an elongate housing andan elastic hand strap attached to the underside of the housing, the handstrap being attached longitudinally of the housing to an underside ofthe terminal unit, one end of the terminal unit comprising means forslidably receiving one end of the hand strap, the hand strap beingslidably held at such one end of the terminal unit under tension of theelastic hand-strap, the hand strap being slidably removable from thereceiving meass for exchange of one data and communications module foranother one of the plurality of data and communications modules.
 7. Thehand-held data collection terminal unit according to claim 6, includinga belt clip attached to the strap and supported by the strap, the beltclip adapted to attach the terminal unit to the belt of an operator. 8.A hand-held data collection terminal unit comprising:a base modulehaving a housing including a user-accessible keyboard and displayscreen, the base module including a first microprocessor circuit forcontrolling the functions of the base module, and for communicating dataand control signals to and from the base module according to apredetermined operational mode of the first microprocessor circuit ofthe base module; means, forming part of the base module, for receivingand for mounting and electrically and communicatively coupling a dataand communication module to the base module; and a selected one of aplurality of data and communications modules, each data andcommunications module of the plurality of data and communicationsmodules having a selectable combination of data communication elements,the selected data and communication module comprising a secondmicroprocessor circuit and an interface circuit, the secondmicroprocessor circuit being coupled to the interface circuit andcoupled between the interface circuit and the first microprocessorcircuit of the base module, the second microprocessor circuit incombination with the interface circuit capable of emulating datacommunication between the first and second microprocessor circuitsaccording to the predetermined operational mode of the firstmicroprocessor.
 9. The hand-held data collection terminal unit accordingto claim 6, wherein the data and communications module comprises apretuned frequency modulated radio transceiver module, the transceivermodule being coupled to the interface circuit and a scanning unit, thescanning unit being coupled to the second microprocessor circuit, boththe scanning unit and the transceiver module being communicativelycoupled to the base unit to communicate with the first microprocessorcircuit according to the predetermined operational mode of the firstmicroprocessor circuit of the base module.
 10. The hand-held datacollection terminal unit according to claim 6, wherein the data andcommunications module comprises a spread spectrum radio transceivermodule, the transceiver module being coupled to the interface circuit,the interface circuit and the second microprocessor circuit interactingto transfer data between the base terminal and the data andcommunications module according to the predetermined operational mode ofthe first microprocessor circuit adapted to communicated data via apretuned frequency modulated radio transceiver module.